Hot Mess Express Candid Candy Conversation Hearts

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Designed by Christopher Box, printed and assembled with love in Eureka Springs Arkansas (these are not mass produced greeting cards)

Hot Mess Express celebrates the beautiful chaos of showing up as you are - late, caffeinated, overdressed, underprepared, and somehow still thriving. Styled after classic conversation heart candies, the design leans into bright color and bold lettering, delivering its message with humor, motion, and zero shame.

This card is for the friend who’s doing their best (which is impressive, actually), the one who turns minor disasters into great stories, or anyone who knows that being a mess doesn’t cancel out being fabulous. Hot Mess Express is an affectionate nod to imperfection - proof that confidence isn’t about having it all together, it’s about owning the ride.

About the Candid Candy Hearts Series

Inspired by the iconic Conversation Hearts® candies, first introduced in 1902, this series draws from a Valentine’s Day tradition that has spanned generations. Known for their pastel colors and stamped messages like Be Mine, Kiss Me, and Call Me, conversation heart candies became a cultural shorthand for affection, small, sweet, and to the point.

The Candid Candy Hearts series began in 2018, created on short notice for a Valentine’s Day décor installation at Neiman Marcus flagship store in Dallas. When an artist unexpectedly backed out, I was invited to step in, and these updated, tongue-in-cheek hearts were born almost overnight. What started as a quick creative solution became one of the most talked-about elements of the installation, resonating instantly with shoppers.

Since then, Candid Candy Hearts have grown into a staple of my art catalog. Each piece keeps the familiar candy-heart format intact while updating the language for modern life, trading sugary clichés for honesty, humor, and emotional truth. They’re designed to feel both nostalgic and unmistakably current, like a Valentine that grew up and learned how to tell the truth.